Vehicle assembly line

Abstract

A vehicle assembly line includes a plurality of carriers that support respective vehicle bodies to which vehicle underbody parts, which are parts that are fitted to the vehicle bodies from below the vehicle bodies, are fitted, and convey the vehicle bodies along the vehicle assembly line. The carriers support the vehicle bodies in such a manner that the longitudinal direction of each of the vehicle bodies is perpendicular to the conveyance direction in which the vehicle bodies are conveyed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle assembly line, comprising:
 a plurality of carriers that support respective vehicle bodies to which vehicle underbody parts, which are parts that are fitted to the vehicle bodies from below the vehicle bodies, are fitted, and convey the vehicle bodies along the vehicle assembly line, 
 wherein the carriers support the vehicle bodies in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of each of the vehicle bodies is perpendicular to a conveyance direction in which the vehicle bodies are conveyed, 
 wherein there is formed a conveyance path which connects spaces under the vehicle bodies supported by the carriers to each other, and through which a tool used to fit the vehicle underbody parts to the vehicle bodies is conveyed; and 
 wherein part spaces in which the vehicle underbody parts are arranged are formed separately from the conveyance path, at positions that are under the vehicle bodies supported by the carriers and that are offset from the conveyance path in the longitudinal direction of each of the vehicle bodies. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle assembly line according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the conveyance path includes a first conveyance path that connects spaces under front portions of the vehicle bodies to each other, and a second conveyance path that connects spaces under rear portions of the vehicle bodies to each other; and 
 each of the part spaces is formed between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle assembly line according to  claim 1 , wherein a tool wagon that is movable in synchronization with each of the carriers is arranged in the conveyance path. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle assembly line according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the part spaces are formed on the carriers; and 
 the conveyance path is located next to the carrier in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle assembly line according to  claim 1 , wherein the carriers move on a floor. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle assembly line according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the carriers includes a base of which a top face is a horizontal face, wheels and a vehicle body support portion that supports the vehicle body at a predetermined height; and 
 a length of the base in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction is shorter than a length of a wheelbase of the vehicle body. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle assembly line according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the vehicle body support portion is formed of an upstream-side support portion and a downstream-side support portion that are arranged with a predetermined distance kept therebetween in the conveyance direction and that are arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to a center line of the base, which extends in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction; 
 vehicle underbody part wagons are placed on the respective bases; and 
 a longitudinal length of each of the vehicle underbody part wagons is shorter than the length of the base in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and is shorter than the distance between the upstream-side support portion and the downstream-side support portion.